A MAJOR three-year project aims to tackle the attainment gap that exists between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers.

Teachers in the region are concerned by the drop-off in progress among children from disadvantaged backgrounds as they move between primary and secondary school. The gap between them and other children only grows wider as they continue through school.

Now, thanks to a grant of £90,000 from education charity SHINE, a dedicated transition officer will lead research into the most effective ways to smooth the journey between schools, which should have a positive impact on academic progress.

A pilot in the first year will involve children joining Walney School, Barrow-in-Furness, from four feeder primary schools. It will focus on raising attainment in science in particular.

The project will then be expanded to other secondary schools within Furness Education Consortium and their feeder primary schools across the Furness Peninsula.

Elaine Foylan, Executive Officer at the Furness Education Consortium, said: “We are concerned about the loss of academic and social progress many children experience when transitioning between schools, and how this then continues as they move through education.

“The data shows us that once young children are on this trajectory, their progress and their attendance can drop off at a remarkable rate, and that gap with our disadvantaged students gets worse and worse.

“As a primary teacher, you nurture young people, and you pass them on to the next establishment, you have to trust that they're going to carry on your work and the children will continue to flourish. And there's nothing more disheartening than seeing the children falter when they join their new school.”

Teaching styles, how poor behaviour is handled, and what language is used by teachers, can often vary greatly from school to school, making the move up to secondary even more daunting. The aim is to increase consistency in all areas of the school experience.

New strategies, such as introducing elements of the secondary curriculum into Year six classrooms and helping parents feel more involved at secondary school, will be tried and tested.

It is hoped that, as well as boosting attainment, the project will lead to improved attendance, and stronger relationships between schools and parents.